Republicans on the House Homeland Security Committee are requesting written testimony from DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, continuing a lengthy back-and-forth with the department over whether he could testify at impeachment hearings. This is because DHS claims it is “malicious.'' , impeach him for “a predetermined express violation of the Constitution''.
Speaker Mark Green sent a letter to Mayorkas offering him an opportunity to submit written testimony ahead of Thursday's second impeachment hearing. The hearing will focus on victims of illegal immigration crimes.
“As I stated in my previous letter to you, your views on the border crisis and the actions you have taken as Secretary are valuable to members of this committee and to the American people. Unfortunately, We have extended the invitation for almost six months, and your requests for testimony specifically focused on the border crisis have been denied or indefinitely deferred,” Greene said, adding that instead requested testimony.
Republicans and Democrats oppose Mayorkas impeachment hearings as state legislature explains impact of immigration crisis
Chairman Mark Green (R-Tenn.) holds a press conference ahead of a House Homeland Security Committee hearing “investigating Secretary Mayorkas' dereliction of duty'' Wednesday, June 14, 2023, in Cannonville. . (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc, via Getty Images)
Republicans, who held their first hearing earlier this month, accused Mayorkas of “dereliction of duty” and “willful violation of oath” in his response to the crisis at the southern border, where encounters with migrants are occurring at record levels. denounced. . They argued that the expansion of “catch-and-release” and the rollback of Trump-era policies are fueling a historic crisis with devastating effects on the country.
The administration contends it is dealing with a hemispheric crisis and needs more funding and reforms from Congress. The report notes that in fiscal years 2022 and 2023, more than 1 million migrants were returned and there were records of seizures of fentanyl by border officials.
Greene's office had invited Mayorkas to testify in person at a hearing earlier this month. In response, DHS is unable to testify at Thursday's hearing due to other commitments such as hosting the Mexican delegation, but is open to testifying in the future and has agreed to schedule and organize hearings with committee members. He said he would try his best to find it.
Republicans described the reaction as a refusal to testify and claimed they had been trying to get Mayorkas to testify in border-specific hearings since August. The Department of Homeland Security vehemently denies that the letter counted as a refusal to testify, saying Mayorkas has testified 27 times in 35 months, more than any other Cabinet member, including at the committee's Global Threats hearing in November. He said he testified. DHS said Republicans have not provided DHS with any alternative dates or options and did not respond to attempts to specify a date.
Press Secretary Mia Ehrenberg said this was “the latest example of the Republican committee's sham process.”
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas speaks during a press conference at the U.S. Border Patrol Station in Eagle Pass, Texas, on January 8, 2024. (John Moore/Getty Images)
“It's clear they have no interest in hearing from Secretary Mayorkas because it doesn't fit with their malicious and planned unconstitutional hasty move to impeach him. offered to testify publicly before the committee. Since then, the committee has not responded to DHS to find a mutually agreeable date,” she said.
“Instead, they provided this written testimony offer to the media before lobbying the Department of Defense. CHS Republicans would rather play politics than work together to address serious problems at the border. “He once again showed that he likes things,” she said.
In response, Mayorkas said he has now given three “tacit refusals” despite his homeland Republican Party's claims of flexibility.
House Homeland Democrats back Mayorkas, slam Republicans as 'lies' ahead of impeachment hearings
“Secretary Mayorkas can object all he wants, but the paper trail is clear: he has consistently and tacitly refused to attend,” the majority wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter). Stated. blame mayorkas “Indefinite delay”.
Democratic members of the committee supported the administration, calling the impeachment push “just a political stunt.”
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“They refused to accept his offer to testify at a later date because it did not fit into their arbitrary and rushed schedule determined by the extreme MAGA Republican Party's unwarranted impeachment.” they saidargued that the impeachment was unjust.
Meanwhile, Foxx acknowledged that this hearing would be the last one and that the next step would be for the committee to schedule markup on the articles of impeachment.
FOX News' Kelly Fares contributed to this report.
